System and apparatus for handling transportable containers



17, 1959 w. c. HO DGES ETAL 2,873,502

' SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 31, 1949 1a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS William, CHI/0:166? Alexander L. Ibb.

ATTORN E Y5 Feb. 17, 1959 w. c; HODGES' ETAL 2, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE conmxmms Filed Oct. 31, 1949 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Willr'anz. C.Hodg5es BY exander L.- Robb.

ATTOR N EYS Feb. 1 7, 1959 Filed Oct. 31, 1949 c Houses ETAL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS l8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS William CJI s BY Alexande L. R bb. Ca/mflww, Maxnu/W ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w HODGES ETA C. L SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 31. 1949 l8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS William, CH es BY AlexanderLRobb.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ET AL 2, 7

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS IN VENTORS William C. Hodes BY Alewzder 13520221). Cd/WLW ATTOR N E Y5 Feb 17 1959 ,w. c. HODGES ETAL 873 SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct. :51, 1949 1a Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig.9?

HHIIHIHIII'IIIIII IIIllHlllllllllllll JLLLHIIIIIIHIIIIIIllllllllIIIIHHHIIHHIITH lllr lllllllllllHlllllllH \llllllllllllllllllll HHIlIlllllIllll JIHHHHHHIIHH IN VEN TORS William. C. HO es r L. Obb.

BY Cww jmkmrlm ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 V w. c. HODGES ET AL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CQNTAINERS Filed Oct. 51. 1949 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 Q if INVENTORS es %obb. 44%;)?

vwwwm WW6 wmw vw 0m CJ-lod BY Alexander L.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ET AL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Fiied Oct. 31, 1949 18 Sheets-Sheet 1O INVENTOR$ William C.Hod

gas ALeacanderL.Ro

ATTOR N EYS Feb. 1959 w. c. I-QIODGES ET AL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 31, 1949 18 Sheets-Sheet 11 a LJQr- Ficil). 7 :21

l77-- I I72 I- 7 17d E w 15 166 INVENTORS mlliamcfiodes BY Alexander L. Robb.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 Filed Oct. 31, 1949 Fn'ciQQ.

l l I 1' w. c. HODGES ET SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTORS v William/(11b BY Alexander L. Ca/mww, v [.JW/

ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ETAL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 31, 1949 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 Fig. 25 k Wilk'cun. C. Hodges ALexander L. Robb.

Ca/mm'm, Mam

ATTORNEYS INVENTORS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ET AL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS l8 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Oct. 3]., 1949 Illnullll llllfl INVENTORS \Villcanv CH0 des 7 BY Alexander L W ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ETAL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS l8 sheets shee t 15 Filed Oct. :51. 1949 INVENTORS wag-am 0.

obb.

BY Alexander L. Ca/mmaw, Mam rim ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ETAL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS I 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Oct. 31, 1949 INVENTORS William C. as

BY Alexander L- Obb,

What/rim ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1959 w. c. HODGES ETAL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS l8 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed Oct. 31, 1949 9 2 INVENTORS willianzlCfHocg BY Alexander L. 0112 WWW flaw-Z ATTORNEYS Feb. 17, 1 959 w. c. HODGES ETAL 2,873,502

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed Oct; 31, 1949 l8 Sheets-sheaf 18 INVENTORS CH0 9 BY Alexander Robb.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SYSTEM AND APPARATUS .FOR HANDLINGv TRANSPORTABLE CONTAINERS Application October 31, 1949, Serial No; 124,592

aclaims- (c1. 214%516) This invention relates, to a system. and. apparatus for handling transportablecontainers and more particularly to such a system and apparatus in which less than carload lot Sizedcontainers aretransferred from and to various types of transporting means or transferred from or to loading docks and the like from. or to various types of transporting means.

Heretofore many systems and deviceshave been pro posed for shifting less than carload lot sized containers between various means of transportation or to or. from loading docks and the like from or to various transporting means. These known systems and devices are subject to various objections, including unnecessarily complicatedand expensive apparatus for effecting the transfer of the containersand. for; these reasons such, systems and apparatus have not been accepted commercially. These known-systems and apparatusrequire .such massive and cumbersome. machinery for effecting. the transfer, of] the container that the transporting equipment with which such mechanism is associated is thereafter unsuited for any use but. the transportation of specially designed less than carloadlot-containers and these containers can be handled only. with such equipment andcannot be utilized as separate mobile units.

By the present invention we have overcome all of the inherent difiiculties in these known structures and systems and havefurtherprovideda novel system and apparatus for the transfer of less thancarloadlot containers which is of such a simple yet powreful construction that the apparatus does not many way preclude the use of the transporting equipment for other purposes, than the transportationtof, the less than carload lot sized containers used with our invention. These containers, may be moved andhandledby other means than the transfer meansherein disclosed and provide separate mobile units for complete transportation, ofloads, from point of origin to, point of ultimate disposition. y

We have overcomethe difliculties inherent in known systems and apparatus by providing the less than carload lot containers with power actuated reciprocal casters at each corner of the container sothat the container may be readily raised by extension of the casters into position for rolling on the same or readily lowered from such raised position so that the .containerwilljrest on .its bottom and the casters may be retracted above the bottom of the container. In conjunction with the casters we have provided power means running on tracks set into the bed of the container transporting means and preferably powered from the engine of the transporting means to move the container uponits casters onto and off of the. transporting means. When the container is to be moved fromlone transporting means to another or from the transporting means to a loading dock or the like we employ-bridging elements to bridge the space between the transporting means or the. transporting means and the loading dock over difierences. of elevation thereof" to provide a track for the casters and to support the containerv in transfer. Our system and apparatus are so constructed and arranged 2 that the several elements, thereof are readily transportable and maybe used and positioned by the. driver of the transporting means without assistance so that it is possible for one man to. effect and control the. transfer of containers oi largelsize without, danger. either to the operator or to theycontainer and 'its contents. By'providing the container with casteririg support at each corner it is possible to readily movethe container from one position to another and we provide means, for controlling the position nfIt c. asters so thatthe container may be readily towed or pushed into. any desired position thus making it pos sible to effect load transp'ortation from point of origin to point. of ultimate disposition without shifting of the lpad'z from the container-Lg r Iti's accordingly an object of the present inventon to provide a novel system and apparatus for effecting the transfer of less than carl'oad lot containers,

Another object is. to provide such a system and apparatus in which power means mounted upon tracks in the bed of the transporting means are employed for movingthe container onto or olf of they transporting means.

Another o'bject'is to provide such a system and apt aratus, in h ch he cont ner, may be mechanically raisedand lowered ontoand on of supporting casters to facilitate transfer ofthe same and to provide a completely mobile container1 for use as individual units.

Another object is to provide such a system and apparatus inwhich the power for effecting the transfer of the container is preferably obtainedfrom. the driving power, ofthecontainer transporting means althoughsuch power may beobtained from any other suitable source. Another object is to provide such a. system and apparatus which does not require major rebuilding of known types, of transportingmeans for utilization with our less than carload lot containers and which does "not preclude the use of the transporting means for, other purposes than with our less than car-load lot containers.

Another object is to provide such a system and apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive to installon existing types of transporting. means and which may be used. by unskilled. personnel with. minimum training and experience. 1 v l 1 Another object is to. provide such apparatus in. which novel'power means are. mounted on tracks. in the bed of the transporting means. for connection to thecontainer for transferring the. same. onto. and. off of 1 the-transporting means. t

Another object is to provide novel means for raising and lowering the casters arranged at each corner of the .container Another object isto provide a novel construction for locking the casters in any desired. castered position to facilitate transportation of our containers-on their casters litany desireddirection.

Another object is to provide novel braking mechanisms for our casters. a

Anotherandn still further object is to provide novel bridgingmeans for bridging the variable space between thetransporting means. and another transporting means or a dock .or the like which bridging means. support. the casters,..during transfer of the container and, compensates for ,dilferences of elevation.

Another object. is to provide novel means for extending the tracks supporting the power means: outwardly beyond the edges of the transporting means.

Another: object is to provide a novel system for controlling the raising and lowering of the casters so that the casters. on one end of-the container may be controlled in unison and the casters on the other endmay be controlled in unison for equal load distributio v t .Anotherk object is to provide anovel system for utilizing.

. the truck to the flatcar;

1 Fig. 4 is a further showing of the embodiment of Fig'.

3 the power of the transporting means to power the power means employed for movingthe container.

Another object is to provide such a novel system and apparatus with which transfer of the container may be accomplished from either side of the transporting means and in either direction therefrom.

Another object is to provide such a novel system and apparatus which can be readily installed on known types of transporting means without major modification thereof and without so changing the same as to preclude its use for other purposes.

Another object is to provide such a novel system and apparatus which will permit transfer of the container either laterally of the transporting means or longitudinally thereof.

Another object is to provide such a system and apparacar with the several elements of our invention in a position for commencing the transfer from truck to the flatcar;

tus in which transfer of the container is quickly and efficiently accomplished.

Another object is to provide a novel less than car load lot containerfor use in our system and without apparatus which is in itself a mobile self contained unit.

Another object is to provide novel connecting means I between the powered means and the container which may be extended in length when desired to give additional reach to the powered means.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the following descriptions.

Our invention is capable of various mechanical embodirnents, one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings and is described hereinafter for purposes of illustration. It shouldbe understood therefore that this illustrative embodiment of our invention in no way de- I fines or limits the same and reference should be had to the appended claims for this purpose. While hydraulic reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic representation of a truck equipped with our system and apparatus for transferring a transportable van or container to a railroad flatcar at higher elevation than the bed of the truck and showing theseveral'elements of the present invention in position for commencing such a transfer;-

Fig. 2 is another view of the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 1 showing the van partially transferred onto the railroad flatcar and the position of the several elements of the present invention when transfer has been partially completed;

Fig. 3 is a further showing of the embodiment of Fig. 1 I

in which the transfer of the van is almost completed from in which the transfer of the van from the truck to the flatcar has been completed;

Fig. 5 is a showing of the system and apparatus of the present invention in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 1 in which the van is to be transferred from a truck to a railroad flatcar at lower elevation than the truck and showing the positioning of the several elements of our invention at the commencement of the transfer;

Fig. 6 is a further showing of-the transfer illustrated in Fig. 5 in which the van is partially transferred from the the container has completed its movement from the truck to the flatcar;

Fig. 9 is a view from above of a truck carryinga transferable container in position alongside a railroad flat- .with the bridging structure; Fig. 25 is a schematic representation of a suitable hydraulic system incorporated in our transferable container manual means;

Fig. 9a is a view from above in somewhat schematic arrangement showing the supporting surface of a means of transportation arranged for either transverse or end transfer of our containers;

Fig. 10 is a side view of a tuck with the transferable container of our invention mounted thereon with the several elements of the present invention shown somewhat schematically in position for starting the transfer of the container;

Fig. 10a is a somewhat schematic side view showing our invention when used in end transfer of our containers from a means of transportation to another means of transportation, loading dock or the like;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the power mechanism which we employ for transferring the container and showing the transfer mechanism" mounted upon its track let into the bed of the truck;

Fig. 11a is a cross-section view of the embodiment of Fig. 11 on line 11a11a thereof;

Fig. 12 is a view of the mechanism of Fig. 11 as seen from the right in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view from above of a part of the power mechanism of Fig. 11 to illustrate a part of the gear train thereof;

Fig. 14 is an end view with enlarged detail of the hook illustrated in Fig. 11 and with an extension latch also shown therein;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail as seen from above of a section of the track upon which the transfer mechanism operates;

Fig. 16 is a side view of a portion of the transferable container of our invention to illustrate in detail the structure of the mechanism for raising and lowering the casters;

Fig. 17 is an end view of the section of the container shown in Fig. 16 to further illustrate the mechanism employed for raising and lowering the casters and to show the construction of the door hinges of the container;

Fig. 18 shows a mechanical means for mounting the rail extension to the sides of the truck and shows the latching mechanism therefor in unlatched position;

Fig. 18a is a showing of the mechanism of Fig. 18 with the rail extension in latched position;

Fig. 19 is an elevation partly in section of our novel mechanism for providing castering action for the casters which we employ at each corner of the container and shows the novel locking mechanism for locking the casiters in various positions as well as our novel mechanism for braking the casters;

Fig; 19a is a view of the mechanism of Fig. 19 as seen from the left therein;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail of the latching mechanism of Figs. 19 and 19a;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 19 on line 21-41 thereof; Fig. 22 is a view from above of the novel bridging structure which we employ to bridge the gap between the truck and flatcar during transfer of the container to receive the casters of the container;

Fig. 23 is a sideview of a portion of Fig. 22 showing in detailthe shoe structure for supporting the ends ofthe bridging structure; a

Fig. 24 is an exploded view of the portion of Fig. 22 shown in Fig. 23 to illustrate how the shoeis assembled the mechanism: of

showing this hydraulic. system in position for raising the casters above the level of the floor of the'container by Fig. 26 is a schematic view of thehydraulic system of Fig. 25 showing this system in position for lowering the 

